I have a confession to make.

Yes. I used to create female personas online and talk to other people, especially other males.

And I do identify as a he. And I know how bad all of this sounds: ‘you’re playing with others emotions!’, ’this is just a fraud’ type of bad.

But hear me out. I did not do this for money. I did this as a mere attempt of seeking attention. I was once curious why girls will never worry about having no one to talk to.

Now obviously we know this is just not true. But I learned it by creating a Twitter account using my friends photo, blend into multiple teenage communities and several nightless trials of sexting with dudes over 30 y.o.

My recklessness was worth it. I now learned we are all the same online —regardless how you think you might be different — you are not.

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Published by Life in Media

Website dedicated to the Media Life/Life in Media project of Mark Deuze, Professor of Media Studies, University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

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